Thursday, October 6, 2011

2011 Meet the Misses v.32 - Miss Montenegro 2011

Montenegro, the pearl of the Mediterranean, is situated in the south of the Adriatic Sea. The 14,000 square kilometer nation includes natural wealth, beauty, mild beaches, clear lakes, fast rivers and gorgeous mountains. The country is part of the Balkans, near Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Albania. It has a population of 670,000. The history of Montenegro dates back to 9th century with the emergence of Duklja, a vassal state of the Byzantine Empire. In 1042, at the end of his 25-year rule, King Vojislav won a decisive battle near Bar against Byzantium, and Duklja became independent. From the 11th century, it started to be referred to as Zeta. Years later Zeta was more often referred to as Crna Gora or by the Venetian term monte negro. Montenegro saw its independence from the Ottoman Empire formally recognized in 1878. From 1918, it was a part of various incarnations of Yugoslavia and on the basis of a referendum held on 2006, Montenegro declared independence that year. Montenegro feature a large Karst region and a mountainous area that includes some of the most rugged terrain in Europe, averaging more than 2,000 meters in elevation. Montenegro is a very popular destination in Europe because of its rich architectural and cultural heritage, diversity of landscapes and climates, and well preserved natural environment. The North Coast of Montenegro feature 72km of beaches and has very well-preserved old towns such as Kotor, Perast and Budva. The Southern Coast feature ancient fortress-cities including Ulcinj and Bar. The nation debuted in Miss World 2006 just months after getting their independence. This year Maja Maraš, Miss Montenegro 2011, will represent her nation in London.

The Times of Beautyproudly presents Maja Maraš, Miss Montenegro 2011, in an exclusive interview for our interview series, Meet the Misses.

1. Give us an introduction of yourself.

My name is Maja Maraš. I am 20 years old and I come from Montenegro. I am student of political science.

2. Tell us a bit more about your country and hometown.

My country, Montenegro, means “Black Mountain” and is located in Southeastern Europe on the Adriatic Sea. Montenegro has both a picturesque coast and a mountainous northern region close to one another. The juxtaposition of these geographical characteristics makes Montenegro one of the best tourist destinations in Europe. The Montenegrin Adriatic coast is 295 km (183 mi) long, with 72 km (45 mi) of beaches, and with many well-preserved ancient old towns. The coastal region of Montenegro is considered one of the great new "discoveries" among world tourists. The capital city is Podgorica, meaning “under the small hill”. Podgorica is located in central Montenegro, which makes its location ideal as it is close to winter ski centers in the north and seaside resorts on the Adriatic Sea. The city itself is only 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) north of Lake Skadar, which is the largest lake in the Balkan Peninsula.

3. What does it mean to you to represent your country at the 61st Miss World finals?

For me, representing Montenegro at the 61st Miss World finals is a great honor but it also comes with great responsibility. People from home expect a lot from me now and I will give my best to represent our country in the right way in order to meet their expectations.

4. If you have to choose a song to describe yourself, which would you choose and why?

Wonderful Life by Hurts, because I believe in life and I enjoy every moment of it.

5. How would you describe a typical day in your life?

A typical day in my life would be time spent with my family, having lunch and talking about some everyday topics and current affairs. My parents and sister mean a lot to me, so I like spending time with them. I also enjoy having fun with my friends, playing with my dog, studying, and reading books. I like to finish my day by watching movies and having dinner with my boyfriend.

6. Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

I am a second year political science student, so 10 years from now, I see myself as a successful diplomat who will help her country in its relations with other countries. I also aspire to be a successful wife and mother, living with my husband in our home with ours two sons and a daughter. That's how I see myself in 10 years.

7. Which well known person from your country do you most admire and why?

In my country there are a lot of successful politicians, famous poets, scientists, and athletes, so it is very difficult to choose only one person.

8. If you had to choose any other country to live in, which one would you choose and why?

That would be Italy. I love that country, its culture and people.

9. After the Sendai Earthquake, nuclear energy has become a focus of attention.Are you in favor or against the use of this kind of energy as a way to reduce the dependence on oil?

I am against the use of this kind of energy because I think that people should focus on using green energy. Green energy is any form of energy or technology that is generated from environmentally friendly and renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, water or biomass. Only through generating energy through the latter methods can we save nature and the world around us.

10. What do you think is the worst kind of human injustice or prejudice happening now?

In my opinion, the worst kind of human injustice is the fact that there are so many hungry and poor people in the world who have nothing, all while some others have too much and live lives of luxury.

11. What are your duties as Miss Montenegro?

As Miss Montenegro I need to embody my country by being well acquainted with our culture and history, in order to represent it to other people and nations in the right way.

12. What role can social media (ex. Facebook, Twitter, etc) play in the life of a beauty pageant titleholder?

Social media can certainly play an important role in the life of a beauty pageant titleholder. Through Facebook for example, people can have conversations with a beauty pageant titleholder, and give suggestions and express their opinion about what the titleholder should or shouldn't do.

13. What does it mean to be a human being?

Being human, in my opinion, means being conscious of yours basic rights and freedoms. These human rights are universal and egalitarian, with all people being created equal. All humans have a right to a healthy and safe environment. They have a right to work and to be educated. But also, one very important fact is that while every human being should be afforded basic rights and freedoms, everyone must be conscious of their obligations and responsibilities to their family and to society, as to create a supportive and positive environment for everyone.

14. What do you feel is your purpose in life?

I feel that my purpose be best exemplified in my role as a future politician and diplomat by helping my country in its relations with other countries and contribute to its rapid progress in growth.

15. Share a message to your supporters and readers of The Times of Beauty.

I am very thankful to all people who supported me and I will give my best not to disappoint you. I wish you all the best!

and finally...

Personal Motto: We must not allow the clock and calendar to blind us to the fact that each moment of the life is a miracle and a mystery.

Personal Goal: To become a successful politician, but also a good wife and mother some day.

The Times of Beauty offers annual coverage of the two best beauty pageants in the planet: Miss World and Miss Universe. The website and its owner are not related in any form or manner whatsoever with these international pageants. "Miss World" and "Mister World" are property of Miss World Limited based in London, United Kingdom. "Miss Universe" is property of Miss Universe L.P., LLLP based in New York, New York, United States. The Times of Beauty does not claim credit or ownership for any images featured unless otherwise noted. We aim to give credit when we can. All visual content is copyright to its respectful owners.